Method and means for removing foreign material from tobacco-scrap.



R. G. MEWBORNE. METHOD AND MEANS FOR REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROMTOBACCO SCRAR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.I7,19I4. I

1,164,953 Patented Dec.21,1915.

eaves COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

nrrEn .sIA'rE s PATENT o en RoBER'r e. MEWBORNE, OF LOUISVILLE,KENTUCKY, .essrenon To THE KENTUCKY 'rozencoo PRODUCT'COMYPANY, ACORPORATION on NEW JERSEY.

METHOD ANDMEANS Eon REMOVING EOEEIGN'MATERIAL anon ronnoco-sonnr.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 17, 1914. Serial No. 819,158.

To all whom it mayco'ncern Be it known that I, ROBERT GpMnw- BORNE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, county ofJefferson, and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Methods and Means for Removing Foreign Material fromTobacco-Scrap, fully described and represented in the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for removingfrom tobacco scrap the foreign material, such as stem shreds, fiber,feathers, paper, etc, which: heretofore has been picked from'tobaccoscrap by hand.

I have discovered that such foreign ma- 7 terial may be quite largelyremoved from tobacco scrap bypassing it down an inclined table, which isgiven a quick reciprocating movement longitudinallyzof the scrap feed,as by an eccentric, so as to form a vibrating shaking table, andproviding the table with one or more obstruction bars projecting upwardtherefrom and extending across the table, several such bars prefer- .iably being used. These obstruction bars break the tobacco up intosections and the shaking table imparts a rolling or rotary motion to thesection oftobacco between each two bars, so that the shreds, fiber,etc.,

' cling together and gradually collect against v section.

- reached the desired size.

the upper side of the lowerobstruction bar as a roll'or rope of foreignmateriaL'ove'r which the tobacco scrap passes into the next This roll orrope of foreign material is removed by hand when it has I have found inactual practice thatthere is hardly any tobacco caught in the roll orrope of foreign material, and that the foreign material is thus quitelargely removed from the tobacco scrap.

I preferably treat the tobacco scrap, after leaving the shaking table,for further removal of whatever foreign material may remain in thetobacco scrap, by 'subjectingthe tobacco scrap to the action of aroll,orpreferably a plurality of rolls, provided with'a surface acting topick up the foreign material from the tobacco scrap, this surfacepreferably being formed by a layer of the foreign material itself, whichis excellently adapted for this purpose. The tobacco scrap is preferablyfed past the rolls on a feeding belt or other table moving below therollsinstead of running the rollso-ver the tobacco, and preferablysuitable stirrers, such as suspended chains, or the like, with theirfree ends lying on the belt, will be used between each pair of rolls soas to stir up thetobacco scrap and bring a fresh surface to the topafter the tobacco layer has been partially cleaned by the precedingroll,

Patented Dec. 21, 1915..

but this arrangement may be changed within the broader features of theinvention.

In carrying out the invention, the tobacco scrap ispreferably fed from ahopper onto the upper end of the inclined shaking table by some feedwhich delivers a uniform layer onto the table, and the shaking tablebetween the obstruction'bars is preferably perforated so as to form ascreen by which the tobacco dirt and dust will be screened out of thetobacco-scrap as the latter passes over the table. The, shaking tabledelivers onto a feeding belt or other moving table, above which aremounted the rolls abovereferred' to, which are free to rotate with themoving-tobacco scrap, and are mounted to move away from the table orbelt, as the rolls increase insize by picking up the for eignmaterialfrom the tobacco scrap.

For a full understanding of the invention,

a detailed description of the construction embodying the samein apreferred form will now be given in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, and the features formingv the invention then specificallypointed out in the claims.

'In the drawings-Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a simple formof apparatus embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of. thesame; Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 38;ofFig. 1; Fig. 4c is anensuspended by swinging hangers 10 on stand ards 1,1, and is given thedesired'vibrating or sha-king'motion by eccentric 12 on shaft 13,connected tothe table by link 14; The table is shownas having threeobstruction barscZ, although more or less may be used,

' and between the obstructionbars cl the table is preferably perforatedto form a screen '6,

' below which is shown ap'anc15. for catching 'the'dust and dirtscreened from the tobacco scrap. From the lower 'end of-the'table a, thetobacco scrap, largely cleaned by the action of the shaking'tab'le andobstruction bars, passes onto a moving table shown as a feedingbelt fmounted on rollers 16. Above fi the-beltrf are mounted aseriesiofrolls'g,

three being shown inv the ,fpresentcase, al-' though less or more may beused if desired,

these rolls being mounted in any suitable manner so as to be-free torotate as-moved by contact with'the tobacco scrapon belt f and beingfree to move away from the belt as the layer of foreign material thereonin creases in'thickness. 'In'the construction shown, these rolls aresimply slipped into vertically slotted supports 1' 7, in which "the:rolls are free to move vertically. Between each pair of; rolls 9are-mounted stirrer's h, which in the form shown consist of metal chainsarrangedin series acrossthe belt and suspended from a bar lS carried bysupports 119. on'opposite sides ofthe belt, so that the ends of'thechains k'drag through the tobacco scrap as the latter is carried'forward v by the belt, thus stirring up the tobacco and bringing a freshsurface to the top for action of the next I'I'Oll thereon.

The rolls-g may be made in any'desired manner and provided with-anysurface suit- '7 able to pick up foreignmaterial from the f I tobaccoscrap; Withany such surface, the

operation of the-roll at once forms a layer of foreign materialuponthe'roll, which is eiiicientfor the purpose desired." The roll,"therefore, preferably is formed with such la surface-and maywellcon'sist of-a light wooden rollprepared by coating it with glue andcovering .it with a thin layer of the shreds and fiber which are to bepicked up from the tobacco scrap this layer being "stuck on by the glue.The drawings show 55- 'sta'r-fwheel 7) onto the upper end of shakingtable a, and then passes down the 'tableover a roll thus formed, 1ubeingwthe center wooden roll, and2' the layer of shreds, fiber,

etc, glued on; the Ivoll."

' 1 The operationofthe'construction will-be ,understood from a briefdescriptionzf-The tobacco scrap 0'0 isjfed from hopper why thesuccessive obstruction barsdjthefine dirt and dust being. screened out,by screen 6 and collected-inthe pan-15, As the tobacco,

scrap passes over the successive obstruction bars (1, it-is divided intosections between the bars, to which the rolling or rotary motion isimparted by the vvibratingtable, with the result: that the shreds,fiber, and other foreign material cling together-i ,ually form a roll.or rope of foreign mate-1,

rial againstthe upper sideof each lower obi struction bar of a pair, andover which roll f or rope thetobaccoscrap passes downward.

This action of *the obstruction Ibarsand shaking table is illustrated ;in, -Il ig.' 4, in

which a roll or ropeof foreign'material 3/ is shown"collectedagainsttheupperf side of an obstruction bar with the tobaccoscrap 00 passingover it} This rail *or ropeis ali lowed to form to the size foundbestinpractice, and is'then removed by hand; The .to-

bacco'scrap m, with the ,foreign'material' referred to largelygremovedfrom it,-cis fed from the lower end jofshaking table a onto belt fin zi-substantiallyuniform layer, andis'then carried for'ward by the beltbeneath the successive rolls "9,? which further clean the tobacco 1scrap by "picking up fully :or

largely the foreign material such as above i described that :mayremain""in* the tobacco scrap as deliveredto the belt: After the tobaccoscrap w 'passesthe' first roll g,'it is astirred by the chains 71/soas'to bring a new surface to the top for the action ofthe sec 0nd roll7 and so on with thesuccessive rolls practice, itlis found thattherollsmayrun up to the-diameter; of '12 inches-goramore,

1 and chains, the cleaned"tobacco b-eing finally delivered fromfthe endof the belt-fix" In when the roll is'removed fromthe table and theforeign; materialstrip'ped 'Ofi" down to the original.materialfhel'd onby' the glue,-,

and the roll isithen again ready for use-and I is'ret-urned to itsbearings over the beltfln Figs.*-5.and 6, one, of-the rolls gis shownoperating on" the tobacco scrap eup nbelt f, with a layer of foreignmateriaLz of com .siderable thickness picked up by. the roll.

It is'found in practicethatthe'foreign,

material collectedbyqth'eobstruction-bars d and rolls 9- containspractically no tobacco, and that the tobacco scrap 'deliveredby the v.belt} f isalmost entirelyv cleanedffrom .eign material'suchas described.

for-

isxnot to be limited to thespecific construction or arrangement of partsillustrated, but

that widely different constructions may be It will be understood thatthe invention used within the invention as defined by the claims. I 2 Ia What is claimed 1s 1 I '1. The method of removing foreign matescrap,which consists in passing the tobac co scrap over. a" surface prov ded'with one or;

rial, such as shreds,.fiber,-etc., froln'tobacco more obstructionbars"extendingupward rial, such a's'shreds. 'fibeu'ete, from tobacco 130i scrap, which consists in passing the tobacco more obstruction barsextending upward from the surface, giving the surface a reciprocating,motion during 'the forward movement of. the tobacco scrap to collectthe foreign material against the obstruction bars, and then rotatingover the surface of a layer of scrap one or more rotatlng rolls having asurface adapted to pick up such foreign material from the tobacco scrap.

I 3. The method of removing foreign material, such as shreds, fiber,etc., from tobacco scrap, which consists in passing the tobacco scrapover a surface provided with one or.

more obstruction bars extending upward from the surface, giving thesurface a reciprocating motion during the forward movement of thetobacco scrap to collect the foreign material against the obstructionbars, and then moving the tobacco scrap in a uniform layer past and incontact with a plurality of rolls having a surface adapted to pick upsuch foreign material from the tobacco scrap, and stirring the tobaccoscrap between the successive,

rolls to bring a new surface into position for the roll action.

4. In an apparatus for removing the foreign material, such as shreds,fiber, etc., from tobacco scrap, the combination with an inclined tablehaving one or more 0bstruct-ion bars extending upward from the bottom ofthe table, of means for giving the table a reciprocatingmotion in thedirection of movement of the tobacco scrap,

i v whereby the foreign material is collected against the upper side ofthe obstruction bar or bars.

5. In an apparatus for removing the foreign material, such as shreds,fiber, etc.,

from tobacco scrap, the combination with an inclined table having ascreened bottom and a plurality of obstruction bars extending upwardfrom the bottom to divide the tobacco scrap into sections above thescreen, of means for giving the table a reciprocating motion in thedirection of movement of the tobacco scrap, whereby the foreign material is collected against the upper side of the obstruction bar orbars.

6. In an apparatus for removing the foreign material, such as shreds,fiber, etc.,

from tobacco scrap, the combination with.

an inclined table having one or more obstruction bars extending upwardfrom the bottom of the table, of means for giving the table areciprocating motion in the direction of movement of the tobacco scrap,whereby the foreign material is collected against the upper side of theobstruction bar orbars, a support to which the tobacco scrap passes fromthe table, one or more rolls having a surface adapted to pick up suchforeign material, and means for rotating the rolls over the surface ofthe tobacco scrap on the support.

7. In an apparatus for removing the foreign material, such as shreds,fiber, etc., from tobacco scrap, the combination with an inclined tablehaving one or more obstruction bars extending upward from the bottom ofthe table, of means for giving the table a reciprocating motion in thedirection of movement of the tobacco scrap, whereby the foreign materialis collected against the upper to pick up such foreign material andbeingv free to move away from the table as the layer of foreign materialincreases in thickness. 1

8. In an apparatus for removing the foreign material, such as shreds,fiber, etc., from tobacco scrap, the combination with an inclined tablehaving one or more obstruction bars extending upward from the bottom ofthe table, of means for giving the table a reciprocating motion in thedirection of movement of the tobacco scrap, whereby the foreign materialis collected against the upper side of the obstruction bar or bars, atraveling table or belt'to which the tobacco scrap passes from theinclined table, a plurality of rolls mounted to rotate in contact withthe tobacco scrap carried by the table or belt, said rolls havingsurfaces adapted to pick up such foreign material and being free to moveaway from the table as the layer of foreign material increases inthickness, and stirrers between the rolls for bringing a fresh surfaceinto'position for the roll action.

9. In an apparatus for removing the foreign material, such as shreds,fiber, etc., from tobacco scrap, the combination with an inclined tablehaving a screened bottom and a plurality of obstruction bars extendingupward from the bottom to divide the tobacco scrap into sections abovethe screen, of means for giving the table a reciprocating motion in thedirection of movement of the tobacco scrap, whereby the foreign materialis collected'against the upper side of the obstruction bar or bars, atraveling table or belt to which the tobacco scrap passes from theinclined table, and a plurality of rolls mounted to rotate in contactwith the tobacco scrap carried by the table or belt, said rolls havingsurfaces adapted to pick up such foreign material and being free to moveaway from the table as the layer of foreign material increases inthickness.

10. In an apparatus for removing the foreign material, such as shreds,fiber, etc., from tobacco scrap, the combination with an inclined tablehaving a screened bottom andfa plurality of obstruction bars extendingupward from the bottom to divide the tobacco tion in the direction ofmovement of the tobacco scrap, whereby the foreign material is collectedagainst the upper side of the obstruction bar or bars, a travelingtableor belt to which the tobacco scrap passes from the inclined table,a plurality of rolls mounted to rotate in contact with the tobacco scrapcarried by'the table or belt, said rolls .hav

' Copies 'of this patent may be obtained for eignk materialand beingfree to move away from the table as the layer of foreign Ina-e terialincreases in thickness, and stirrers be-o a tween the rolls-forbrlnglnga freshsurface v into position for the roll action.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto scribing witnesses. v r

ROBERT G; MEWBORNE. l/Vitnesses; ROBT. B. ARNOLD,

C. C. SMITH.

2 0 set my hand, in the presence oftw'o sub-1 v ents each, by addressingthe (l oiiimi s sionelrot Yatents, I Washington, 10.0.? i V 1

